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Author
Topic: How to get involved locally? (Read 4158 times)

I live about an hour west of Nashville, which I think will be the only place I can get active. I know they have Nashville Cares. How do I get my foot in the door with getting active? I've never been active in anything in my life really. But, since finding out in Jan that I was positive I want to be active, I want to help in every way I can even if it's just talking about the virus to people and spreading the word about using condoms. Or delivering food, holding fundraisers whatever it takes.

Being active is the one thing that has pulled me out of my depression to date. I want to make lemonade out of these lemons and help other people.

So can anyone give me any advice on how to get started? who to contact? where to go?

The Mississippi Department of Health had me sign paperwork that said I was legally liable if I infected anyone else. I found out later that I was not legally required to even go to the Department of Health.

An embarassing interview for a very old infection and they gleaned no useful information from me because I have absolutely no idea who infected me. Not to mention I was so anemic it basically killed me just getting up to the place, and I was surrounded by sick people. Just glad I came out of it without picking up anything else. I understand the motivation behind it, but when I look at the guy and told him I haven't slept with anyone unprotected in a while, he should have taken it at face value.

Hate hearing about this kind of abuse. We don't have to sign such garbage. Intentional criminalizing laws are a scourge and to add insult having people sign some incriminating document or supplant a right is outrageous. You've both been victimized and understandably embittered about it. This crap needs to stop.

I think the whole signing the paper had to do more with the army. I will dig the paperout and scratch out my info and scan it for my blog. I was upset then, and I had seriously believed what the paperwork said that I wasn't allowed to concieve. So when I came on here I was really surprised too see so many women talking about babies and when I went to Nashville they were very kind and she hinted that it is possible and that they had six negative babies born this last year (or over the past couple years) can't remember and one positive baby because the mom did not get treatment.

The stigma is what bothers me, not because it's directed at me, I can handle it. But so many out there can't. I was very fortunate to have understanding friends and family but not everyone does and they become isolted.

I did email Nashville cares though I havent recieved a response yet, or I missed it. I asked about anything closer to home. I''m also doing a partylite fundraiser over the next month to raise money to take down there to Nashville Cares, it probable wont be a lot but it makes me feel better even if its just some pocket change.

I live about an hour west of Nashville, which I think will be the only place I can get active. I know they have Nashville Cares. How do I get my foot in the door with getting active? I've never been active in anything in my life really. But, since finding out in Jan that I was positive I want to be active, I want to help in every way I can even if it's just talking about the virus to people and spreading the word about using condoms. Or delivering food, holding fundraisers whatever it takes.

Being active is the one thing that has pulled me out of my depression to date. I want to make lemonade out of these lemons and help other people.

So can anyone give me any advice on how to get started? who to contact? where to go?

Rav,

There are several pathways you might consider to get involved.

You've already emailed Nashville Cares (which I assume is the closest ASO to you), that's a good start. Also you might consider joining a support group in your area, the reason I say this is I joined a support group here and soon found myself helping with getting informational pamphlets together to distribute throughout the city. I even participated in manning a booth at the local community college and handing out literature, condoms, etc..The ASO's do this also but our support group lended a hand in these types of functions. There is always need for people willing to do these types of tasks. If there are no support groups in your area, pehaps you should look into starting one, maybe one for women only, your choice. Find a local library or church willing to let you use their facility and then start getting the word out or placing ads about your new support group.

Also most ASO's are connected to or run their own AIDS Hospice facilities. You might check into that, even just emptying trash cans or washing dishes at a Hospice can go along ways towards helping. Of course, if you wish you can probably do more intense duties at a Hospice facility, such as assisting the patients, etc... Just ask.

We have several fundraising activities in our area, "Viva Las Vegas", "Western Swing", "Webb PArty" are some of the annual events we have in the area and they are always looking for volunteers to help with these. These may or may not be associated with the Local ASO, just do some checking around.

We also have AIDS Thrift stores which need volunteers to man the store, sort doantions, etc..

We also have an independent AIDS Emergency Shelter complex that helps homeless people with HIV get off the street, they too are always looking for help.

These are just examples of the opportunities in my area, these may or may not be in your area but it gives you an idea of what's out there.

The best place to find these types of opportunities is obviously through the local ASO, but you can also Just google the info. For example Google "AIDS NAshville", or "AIDS Ft Bend" and sort through the results.